obama had done an inappropriate end-run around the senate. but white house spokesman jay carney took issue with the ruling. >> the decision is novel and unprecedented. it contradicts 150 years of practice by democratic and republican administrations. so we respectfully but strongly disagree with the rulings. accord together congressional research service something like 280 plus intrasession recess appointments by, again, democratting and republican administrations dating back to 1867. >> sreenivasan: if the decision stands, it could invalidate hundreds of decisions made by the labor board. moreover, the body would not have enough members to issue decisions, effectively shutting it down. the ruling also could spell trouble for richard cordray, the head of the consumer financial protection board. he was not part of this legal case, but he was appointed in the same manner on the same day. for more on all this, we turn to steven greenhouse of "the new york times." nice to be here. >> steven, just back us up a little bit. what are some of these de